Automatic lubricator



March 31,' 1931. E. G. GARTINv AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR Filedl Feb. 21 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 2l 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\&

an internal recess 32 shaped to fit a suitable socket wrench for removal and insertion of the plug. In assembling the parts of my improved lubricator the members 13 and 2O may be attached together and inserted as a unit into the reservoir through the opening which is normallv closed by plug 17 The bearing 14 is then fitted over the cylindrical projection 11 and plug 17 screwed home.

In operation theV reservoir 7 may be filled with lubricant by removal of plug 27 and while this is being done a. stop valve which is ordinarily provided in the pressure fluid supply line leading to the lubricator would be closed so that the lubricator would be relieved of all pressure. After filling of the reservoir and insertion of theV plug 27, the pressure may be placed upon the lubricator, whereupon the pressure fiuid will flow past the valve 28 through passages 12, 21, 23, and 22 until the reservoir is subjected to line pressure. Now if the operator of a tool to which pressure fluid is being supplied opens the throttle valve of his machine, there will be a flow of pressure fluid through the lines 3 and 4 with a consequent reduction in the pressure at the lubric'ator which will cause the pressure in the lubricant reservoir to force a quantity of lubricant back through passages 22, 23, 21, 12, and 8 into the pressure fluid line leading to the tool to be lubricated. Also during operation, assuming that the tool to be lubricated is fitted with some form of reciprocating motor, there will be fiuctuations in pressure in the supply line which will cause alternate flow of pressure iiuid into the reservoir and lubricant from the reservoir, the action resembling a small automatic pump. It will be evident that when the reservoir is tilted to any position whatever the arm 18 will swing under the action of gravity to a position wherein the bearing portion 19 will be at the lowest possible level and of course no matter what the position of the arm 18, the member 20 will swing about the bearing portion 19 until it hangs downwardly. `With this construction, even if the lubricator be turned upside down, as it is liable to be in actual practice, lit will continue to function and draw oil from the reservoir until the supply is practically exhausted.

In the modiiied form of construction shown in Fig. 4, instead of providing two swinging members one of which is pivoted upc-n the other, I have provided a single swinging member 13a having an arm 33 proj ecting horizontally adjacent the lower bearing 15, which arm may be provided with a weighted', downwardly projecting portion 34.. A passage 35 leads to the extreme lower and outermost portion of the swinging member. Instead of forming the boss 11 integral with the body portion 1,V it is illustrated .in this modificaton as comprising a part of a removable plug 36 which is provided with screw threads 37 for attachment to the upper wall of the body portion. The valve 28 of course is mounted in this removable plug instead of the external boss 29 as in the preferred form. The plug is provided with a transverse passage 38 which is in constant co-mmunication by way of a groove 39 with the passage 8. This feature will facilitate assembling of the pivoted member in the reservoir.

The operation of this form of the device will be practically the same as that discussed in connection with the description of the first form except that it will not operate when the lubricator is completely inverted. I-Iowever, it will be apparent that for all ordinary conditions, as long as the lubricator is kept on its bottom surface, all of the lubricant may be withdrawn, even if the device is tilted to an extreme limit in any direction.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the general construction is somewhat modified as will be readily apparent in the drawings. The body portion 40 is of somewhat more compact form than the flat cylindricaltype and the pressure fiuid is conducted through a central passageway 41 directly from the connection 3 on one side to the pipe 4 on the opposite side. In order to provide the passageway 41 a pair of tubular members 42 are mounted in suitable bosses, one of which is designated 43 and the other 44, the latter being part of a removable closure member 45. Mounted between the adjacent ends of the tubular members 42 is a member 46 which has shoulders 47 and 48 abutting against the ends of the tubular members and laterally extending annular flanges 49 which provide a suitable bearing upon the tubular members so that member may swing freely about a horizontal axis. Upon the lower end .of this member is mounted a member 50 which is fixed upon a bearing portion 51 by means o-f a screw 52 and washer 53. This member has a bore 54 which is in communication with the passage way 41 by means of a groove 55 in the bearing portion, a transverse passage 56 and a longitudinal passage 57. The flow of lubricant from the reservoir into the air line may be controlled by a valve element 58 adjust-y ably mounted in the member 46 and cooperating with a conical seat 59` at the end of passage 57. A filling plug 60 is also shown andv it will be noted that the position of this plug is such that when it is removed the valve element may be adjusted by means o a suitable socket wrench. v Y

The action of this device is similar to the action Vof the other two forms which haveA been described. Whenever the lubricator is tilted in any direction away from the position shown, the member 46 will swing so that its depending portion will assume the mesme lowest Ypnssible-level and member 450 will -sWingfabout-iits ibearingufponthe zend: of; member 46 unti- 1-ts iendzisifinithe ,lowestpoint :of the reservoir. VItwill:thus :be clearith'at no matter infwihat position'the -body Iof the lu- `loricatormaybe in actual use, practically all ofthe oil `maybe dra-wn from-*the reservoir.

In assemblingiths -devicethe closure member is removed andjtube l421p` lacefdgin lposition. Ifidesiredthistubermay be securely fixed in the boss 43. The swinging members -46 Vand 50 V'I nayit'hen lbe assembled in fdesired Vrelation `:and the valve element also associated therewith and the whole placed into V:the reservoir and fl'ittcd over the end of tube 42. The other Atube may then be securely ,attacheditopthe closure member 45 and inserted and the closure'member screwed in- `to position. The 4pressure fluid linemay .be then-connected. Y

As a result of my invention kit will befevi- `dent that `an improved lubricator of simple construction Vhas been devised which will automatically function to .supply lubricant at the desired time into a pressure fluid supply line and that :this lubricatorbyreason of the Apeculiar ,co-nst-ruction of the pivoted members-will permit substantially Va-ll ofthe lubricant being withdrawn no matter what position the device mayassume in actual use.

Vhile I have in this application specifically described three forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will 1be understood thatthese vforms of the same rare shown for purposes of illustration and that the 'invention may beniodified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

IVhat I'claim 4as-new andvdesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. I-n-an automatic l-u-bri-cator adapted to be installed in a pressure :fluid supply line, a Acasing having -an annular liu-id conducting passage formed therein, avlubricant reservoir in said casing within said passage, a supplemental fluid conducting passage communicating with said annular passage, means for supplying lubricant from said reservoir to said annular passage through said supplemental passage, said means comprising passage forming means pivotally mounted in said reservoir and automatically movable so as to communicate with the lowest point in said reservoir.

2. In an automatic lubricator, a casing having a passage formed therein adapted to conduct pressure fluid therethrough, a reservoir in said casing, means for establishing communication between said reservoir and said passage comprising a member mounted in said reservoir for free pivotal movement 360 degrees about its axis and having a passage in communication with said fluid conducting passage, and a second member mounted on said rst mentioned member to swing 360 degrees about an axis at right angles to the axis V-ofV said 4first mentioned V4member and haying -aipassa ge `therethrough in constant cominuni 'cation with the Apassage 'through said first Imentioned member.

Y 3. In an automatic lubricator,a cas-ing hav` ing walls defining a central lubricant reservoir, a pressure fluid conducting passage v'formed in said walls, means for establishing between said fluid conducting passage and the lowest point in said reservoir.

4. In-an automatic lubricator adapted to be installed in a pressure fluid line, a casing having` walls defining a lubricant reservoir, an `annular passage in said walls around said reservoir for *conducting pressure fluid therethrough, and means for establishing communication between said reservoirand said fluid conducting passage including a member lpi-voted on an axis arranged centrally of said lubricant reservoir and havingA a' passage therethrough in communicationwith'the fluid conducting passagein the walls of said'reservoir.

5.. In an automatic lubricator adapte'dto be installed ina pressure fluid supply line, a casing having means for conducting pressure fluid therethrough, said :casing having an exterior flat bottom surface on which it is adapted to rest during use, a lubricant'reservoir in said casing, and means for supplying lubricant from said reservoir to said conducting means including a lubricant conducting member pivotally supported on the bottom wall ofgsaid casing and arranged to swing aboutan axis substantially perpendicular to said flat surface.

6. Inv an automatic lubricator adapted to be installed ina lpressure fluid supply line, aV

casing having means for conducting pressure fluid therethrough, said casing having an eX- terior flat bottom surface on which it is adapted tofrest during use, a lubricant reservoir in said casing, and means for supplying lubricant from said reservoir to said conducting means including a lubricant conducting member pivotally supported ion one wall of said casing'and Aarranged to swing aboutan axis substantially perpendicular to'said flat surface.

7. In an automatic lubricator adapted to be installedV in a pressure fluid supply line, a casing having means for conducting pressure liuid'therethrough, said casing having an eX- terior flat bottom surface on which it is adapted to rest ,during use, a lubricant reservoir in Said casing, a boss rising 'from the bottomV Cil wall of said casing, and means for supplying lubricant from said reservoir to said conducting means including lubricant conducting means pivotally supported on said boss to s swing about an axis substantially perpenpassage therethrough for conducting pressure'fluid, a lubricant reservoir in said casmg, and means for supplying lubricant from Asaid reservoir to said passage including a lubricant conducting member pivotally supported on the bottom wall of said casing and arranged to swing about an axis substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface.

9. In an automatic lubricator adapted to be installed in a pressure fluid supply line, a casing having an exterior flat bottom surface on which it is adapted to rest during use, means integral with said casing providing a passage therethrough for conducting pressure fluid, a `lubricant reservoir in said casing, means for supplying lubricant from said reservoir to said passage including a lubricant conducting member pivotally supported on the bottom wall of said' casing and arranged to swing about an axis perpendicular to said bottom surface, and a valve for controlling flow of lubricant to said passage.

10. In an automatic lubricator adapted to be installed in a pressure fluid supply line, a casing having means for conducting line pressure fluid therethrough, a lubricant reservoir in said casing, means disposed within said reservoir for conducting lubricant from said reservoir to said casing conduit including means having an AL-shaped lubricant passage one leg of which communicates with said line pressure conduit in the casing, and means whereby the other leg of said lubricant passage is adapted to swing through at least 180 degrees about the axis of said first mentioned leg. f

11. The combination set forth in claim further characterized by the provisionV of a member having a lubricant passage communieating with, and swiveled about the axis of, said swinging passage. Y y

12. In an automatic lubricator adapted to be installed in a pressure fluid supply line, a casing having means for conducting line pressure fluid therethrough, a lubricant reservoir in said casing, means ydisposed within said reservoir for conducting lubricant from said reservoir to said casing conduit including means having an L-shaped lubricant passage one leg of which communicates with said line pressure conduitin the casing, and means whereby the other leg of said lubricant passage is adapted to swing through a complete revolution aboutan axis angularly disposed to the axis of said second leg.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 further characterized by the provision of a member having a lubricant passage communicat-ing with said swinging passage and adapted to be rotatable through a complete revolution about the axis of the swinging passage.

14.. In an automatic lubricator adapted to be installed in a pressure fluid line, a casing having a lubricant reservoir therein, means forming a passage adapted to conduct line pressure fluid through said casing, a boss projecting inwardly of said reservoir from one wall thereof 'and having a lubricant passage 'communicating with the line conduit in the casing, a member pivotally supported on said boss and having a lubricant passage communicating with said boss passage, said boss and pivotal member being arranged whereby removal of said member is in a direction axially of said boss.

15. In an automatic lubricator adapted to be installed in a pressure fluid line, a casing having a passage for'conducting line pressure fluid therethrough and also having a lubricant reservoir, and means forming a lubricant passage leading from said reservoir to said line conduit in the casing including a plurality of cooperating elements each having a lubricant passage in communication with that in the other and each being adapted to have swiveled movement through at least 180 degrees, one of said elements swiveling with respect to another.

16. The combination set forth in claim 15 further characterized in that each of said ele- ELMERv G. kGrAR'lIhT. 

